An Admissions Tutor’s Perspective August 25 th , 2011

1. An Admissions Tutor’s PerspectiveAugust 25th, 2011 Dr Mike Sewell Admissions Tutor, Selwyn College

2. HOT TOPICS • A* at A Level • The IB and Cambridge offers • Subject Choices and Guidance • Admissions Research • Resources • Preparing and supporting applicants

3. A* AND CAMBRIDGE • Of our AL offer-holders 94%+ achieved at least one A* • And 77%+ achieved at least two A*s • Proportions achieving various numbers of A*s: • 0                7% in 2010 6.3% in 2011 • 1               16% 16.5% • 2               25% 23.3% • 3               26% 27.8% • 4               21% 22.9% • 5+        5% 3.2% • Note: Some of the 0 A* students achieved at least 1 in 2010; Some with 0 A* will not have been confirmed.

4. A* CONTINUED • 7469 A* grades (6973 last year) among 2934 students holding conditional offers • 53.3% of these A* grades (3977) were achieved by students attending UK maintained sector schools and colleges • 41.6% (3107) were achieved by students attending UK independent schools.

5. A*, PART III • This is in line with proportions of offers made • Our offer-holders averaged 2.55 A* grades each, 2.4 in 2010 • Independent school applicants averaged 2.65, maintained sector students 2.47 • Any disparity can be accounted for by the availability of Further MathsA Level

6. 2011 RESULTS: OTHER MATTERS • Re-marks will raise the number of A* • AAA* offer may have driven performance up • EPQ grades not considered or part of offers • Pre-U: D1 and D2, few D3 grades • IB predictions and results remain an issue

7. SUBJECTS AND CHOICES • Contrary to what the press alleges • All open and nothing hidden • Fitness for purpose the key • Not subject title or novelty • Colleges offer guidance • So too the University’s collective website

8. SUBJECT MATTERS • http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/apply/docs/subjectmatters.pdf

9. SUBJECT MATTERS, 2 • Essential/required subjects • Keystone subjects • Useful subjects • Other subjects • Combinations of subjects

10. http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/teachers/

11. INCLUDES • A guide for teachers/advisers • A guide for parents/supporters • Cambridge/Oxford differences • Events/CPD • Behind the Headlines • Admissions Research

12. ADMISSIONS RESEARCH • Our OFFA Targets and how we came to them • AS/A2 Level modular performance and the Tripos • School sectors and the Tripos • IB and the Tripos • Watch the space there will be more

13. ADMISSIONS RESEARCH, 2 • STEP the best (for Maths) • UMS strongly correlates to our exams • BMAT, GCSE correlate, but less strongly • TSA also helpful • Exam correlations not affected by school type • IB correlations interesting

14. THERE IS NO ‘SECTOR GAP’ IN CAMBRIDGE EXAM PERFORMANCE www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/research/

15. THE IB AND SCIENCES

16. THE IB AND NON-SCIENCES

17. CAMBRIDGE DEVELOPMENTS • Different approach from Oxford • Law Test, TSA and other tests alongside interviews • Interviews • Statement and references important • AS/A2 module scores vital • Successful applicants average better than 93% in their best/most relevant three subjects

18. GUIDING APPLICANTS • Course choice first, university second • The importance of Year 11 choices • GCSE results matter • AS results are vital • Realism and ambition • It is never too early to do extra-curricular reading an academic engagement

19. PREPARING STUDENTS • Exam record is crucial • Interview is only one element of the assessment • Conversations about academic matters • Academic focus not extra-curricular • Discussion of recent work and new ideas • Extended projects may be good material

20. MORE INFORMATION • Additional information is available in our prospectus and on our websites at: www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/ • Contact Admissions Tutors in the Colleges • Ask questions!